Righteous Kill (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
Detectives Turk & Rooster (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino) think they can will help identify a possible connection btwn. some recent murders & a case they thought to be solved years ago. Is this the work of a serial killer? Is it a cop? Is someone being framed? Young hot shot detectives Riley & Perez (Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo) are on task to keep their older counterparts in line, and see if they can smoke out the rat themselves. 'Righteous Kill', directed by Jon Avnet, has a fairly standard plot. The conclusion is cliched. But it is SUCH a pleasure to watch the interplay btwn. 2 of Hollywood's 'greats' onscreen together. They are so good. And because we're so familiar with them, they can transcend any mundane story/dialogue (not necessarily in this film) & still dazzle us after all of these years.
Turk & Rooster have been best pals & partners in the NYPD Homicide Division for 30 years. They know Manhattan's streets like the back of their hand. They know how to gauge certain scenarios. So when a serial killer is targeting criminals who have gotten away with rape, murder, drug extortion, and the like ... Turk & Rooster think they can crack this case before retirement. The killer murders his/her 'victims', writes a poem about why he's killed them, & thinks he's helped the police by taking out the very scum who should have been behind bars in the 1st place (from a wholly un-judicial standpoint, who could blame him?). In fact, Turk & Rooster almost respect the killer for doing something so bold and (dare they think) morally correct.
Now, get this: the movie's framing device shows (right from the get-go) Turk confessing, on video camera, to the killings! What's the mystery? Why show this tape? Why so blatant? Or is it misdirection? Is it a double-negative; making us believe that Turk IS, but ISN'T, but ah-ha!! ... IS the real killer? This device is used well, and for a long time, effectively. We never know for sure if there IS a real vigilante; or could it be Turk? Watch it be Rooster. Maybe it's Detective Perez, who actually has 'some' motive. Perhaps it's Turk's fellow cop/girlfriend, Karen (Carla Gugino)? Many twists (both subtle & extravagant) are thrown at us. And until the incredibly protracted, dumb conclusion ... I was quite wound up in it all.
You can't deny the chemistry btwn. heavyweights De Niro & Pacino when they're onscreen together. There's a comfort level (perhaps too comfortable), a zest, an energy, a flair. It doesn't matter what the dialogue is (most of it is pretty good), they say it, we believe it. We believe they've been partners for 30 years. We believe their respect for one another. It makes the pending climax all the more intriguing; I note 'pending', not the actual climax.
Carla Gugino, Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, & even 50 Cent (as a drug dealing club owner) have their slick moments. I enjoyed this movie from beginning to (almost) end. Is 'Righteous Kill' exciting? Yes. Does it have the crispest screenplay? No. Is the ending riveting and original? Haha, absolutely not (it irked me). Is De Niro's confession video a unique plot device? No, not really. But when I left the theater, I found that my time was well spent. The negative buzz surrounding this flick is highly unfounded. My theater seemed to have a good time. I dug into my seat, & experienced a slightly above average cop/crime thriller ... one I would have NO problem recommending; based mainly on the De Niro/Pacino factor.
Turk & Rooster have been best pals & partners in the NYPD Homicide Division for 30 years. They know Manhattan's streets like the back of their hand. They know how to gauge certain scenarios. So when a serial killer is targeting criminals who have gotten away with rape, murder, drug extortion, and the like ... Turk & Rooster think they can crack this case before retirement. The killer murders his/her 'victims', writes a poem about why he's killed them, & thinks he's helped the police by taking out the very scum who should have been behind bars in the 1st place (from a wholly un-judicial standpoint, who could blame him?). In fact, Turk & Rooster almost respect the killer for doing something so bold and (dare they think) morally correct.
Now, get this: the movie's framing device shows (right from the get-go) Turk confessing, on video camera, to the killings! What's the mystery? Why show this tape? Why so blatant? Or is it misdirection? Is it a double-negative; making us believe that Turk IS, but ISN'T, but ah-ha!! ... IS the real killer? This device is used well, and for a long time, effectively. We never know for sure if there IS a real vigilante; or could it be Turk? Watch it be Rooster. Maybe it's Detective Perez, who actually has 'some' motive. Perhaps it's Turk's fellow cop/girlfriend, Karen (Carla Gugino)? Many twists (both subtle & extravagant) are thrown at us. And until the incredibly protracted, dumb conclusion ... I was quite wound up in it all.
You can't deny the chemistry btwn. heavyweights De Niro & Pacino when they're onscreen together. There's a comfort level (perhaps too comfortable), a zest, an energy, a flair. It doesn't matter what the dialogue is (most of it is pretty good), they say it, we believe it. We believe they've been partners for 30 years. We believe their respect for one another. It makes the pending climax all the more intriguing; I note 'pending', not the actual climax.
Carla Gugino, Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, & even 50 Cent (as a drug dealing club owner) have their slick moments. I enjoyed this movie from beginning to (almost) end. Is 'Righteous Kill' exciting? Yes. Does it have the crispest screenplay? No. Is the ending riveting and original? Haha, absolutely not (it irked me). Is De Niro's confession video a unique plot device? No, not really. But when I left the theater, I found that my time was well spent. The negative buzz surrounding this flick is highly unfounded. My theater seemed to have a good time. I dug into my seat, & experienced a slightly above average cop/crime thriller ... one I would have NO problem recommending; based mainly on the De Niro/Pacino factor.